There are so many good phones to choose from right now but which one is the king of the castle? Is there even a winner? In truth, there's no one perfect choice for everyone, so bear in mind that the best phone for you might not be number one in our chart.
Phones come in all shapes, sizes and prices. Here, we have ranked and reviewed the ten best phones money can buy.
Best smartphone 2021
iPhone 12 - Best all-rounder
- $799 (64GB) | $849 (128GB) | $949 (256GB)
The iPhone 12 represents a leap forward for the iPhone, offering not only an improved design reminiscent of the beloved iPhone 5 and iPad Pro, but the same 6.1in Super Retina XDR display as the Pro model - something Apple hasn't offered on the standard model in the past.
Once you look past the design and improved display, it's the heart of the iPhone 12 that's most impressive. Featuring the A14 Bionic, Apple's new chipset beats just about everything else available at the moment, and that's without the extra RAM available on the 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max.
There's also an improved camera setup with better low-light photography and smart tech to help reduce the warp of photos taken on the ultra-wide lens. There's even Dolby Vision video recording, albeit capped at 4K@30fps.
Simply put, the 5G-enabled iPhone 12 is all the iPhone you'll need. It's harder than ever to justify the expensive leap to the iPhone 12 Pro, with the same design, display and processor, and a similar camera setup too.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra - Best performance
- $1199.99
After 2020's disappointing Galaxy S20 Ultra, Samsung has finally earned the name with a follow-up that delivers almost everything you could want from an Android flagship - admittedly at a price that only a few can afford, and in a form factor that will simply be too big for some.
The camera stands unrivalled - in terms of versatility - with a 108Mp main shooter backed up by an ultrawide and two telephoto lenses at different zoom levels (3x and 10x).
The expansive 6.8in display delivers both high WQHD+ resolution and an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz, making it great for gaming and with new S-pen stylus support, it fills the productivity niche of the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra too.
Oppo Find X3 Pro - Superb camera
- £1,099 (about $1,500)
The Find X3 Pro is Oppo's all-singing, all-dancing flagship device, and it earns its spot at the top of this chart.
Yes, it's expensive, and there's no denying that. But you get the latest Snapdragon 888 chipset, 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, and 65W wired charging together with 30W wireless.
The main and ultrawide cameras both pack the same 50Mp sensor, and offer almost exactly the same quality shots, with punchy colours, oodles of detail, and great dynamic range. There's 'only' a 2x zoom camera - no periscopic lens here, sadly - but you also get a novel new micro lens camera, capable of taking super-closeup shots.
Those cameras are capable of outputting images in 10-bit colour, and in fact the phone supports true 10-bit storage and encryption too, right through to the 10-bit, 120Hz, WQHD+ display - possibly the best in any phone right now.
This is not just Oppo's best phone, but one of the best flagships on the market from any company.
Samsung Galaxy S21 - Best for ease of use
- $799.99
The baby of 2021's Galaxy S lineup, the Galaxy S21 doesn't push the envelope in any one area but at the same time addresses the S20's bland design with some new aesthetic and colour choices.
What's more, it also offers up better battery life and the new 5nm chipset at its heart (the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100, depending on where you pick one up) is some undeniably powerful silicon, granting the phone great long-term performance and integrated 5G.
Add to that the latest Android 11 (dressed in Samsung's own One UI 3.1, at launch) and a lower starting price than even the 4G version of last year's Galaxy S20 and the S21 is a difficult handset to overlook.
Xiaomi Mi 11 - Great performance
- From €749 (around $900)
Xiaomi's current flagship (at least until the Mi 11 Pro and Ultra arrive in China and globally, respectively) serves as the perfect foil to Samsung's base Galaxy S21.
It may not have the most capable camera system of any Android phone currently out there but there's no denying that the 108Mp 1/1.33in sensor that leads its photographic setup is undeniably strong.
Similarly to the S21, it also boasts top-tier performance - powered by a Snapdragon 888 processor - and a host of other highlights, including stereo speakers, 50W fast charging, and an expansive 6.81in WQHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display.
OnePlus 8 Pro - Best user experience
- $899 (8GB/128GB) | $999 (12GB/256GB)
The OnePlus 8 Pro is arguably the company's first full flagship, finally incorporating long-requested features like wireless charging and an IP68 waterproof rating to make it a genuine contender with the likes of Samsung's finest of 2020.
Even the base model is no slouch, at 8GB RAM and 128GB storage; representing serious value by flagship standards, even a year on from release.
The 8 Pro's camera is a great step forward for the company and while it still lags behind rivals, OnePlus' imaging engineers have clearly worked hard to narrow the gap considerably. Throw in 5G, a great design and the best Android skin around and the OnePlus 8 Pro is easy to recommend.
While the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro have since launched, they generally left us underwhelmed, so you get more for your money with 2020's OnePlus 8 Pro.
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